Traditional Beef Cattle Fattenning System in Melo Koza Woreda Gamo Gofa Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was conducted to assess traditional beef cattle fattening system in Melokoza woreda. Information was collected from 36 households using structured questionnaires. About 94.4% of the farmer used local breeds and 5.6% of the respondents used cross breeds for fattening purpose. About 66.67% of the respondents practiced their animals for 3 to 4 months and 33.33% of them were practiced 3 to 6 months and the fattening length depending on crop residues, wheat bran, grazing land and sweat potato. As a source of water for their cattle 52.8% of the respondent watered their cattle once a day, 36.1% of the respondents watered their cattle twice a day and 11.1% of respondents watered their cattle more than twice a day. With the regard to housing about 61.11%of the respondents used compost barn type of house, 22.22% of the respondents used tie stall house and 16.67% of respondents used free stall barn. Out of the interviewed respondents 38.9% were mentioned foot and mouth disease, 33.3% of respondents mentioned pasteurelousis, 22.2% calf eneristis and 5.6% were mentioned Anthrax occurred on their beef cattle. Furthermore,  33.33% of the respondents reported that shortage of feed and lack of grazing land, 16.667% of the respondents reported that poor extension service, 16.667% of the respondents reported that in inadequate capital and health problem and 33.335% of them were reported that poor veterinary services and low level of technology. So that by considering and give attention the effects of the constraints and use of alternative opportunities to be successful in beef cattle fattening in the study area.

Keywords: Beef cattle, fattening system, production.